California now works on the principle of the mordida, or 'bite.' Its government assumes that it can take something extra from residents for the privilege of living in their special state. Gov. Jerry Brown made that assumption explicit in his latest back-and-forth

No, we're not in Africa or India. But it sure feels like we could be at the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, located about 30 miles north of downtown San Diego near Escondido. This is a bona-fide adventure designed to give you the experience of seeing these animals in their natural habitats

Fresh, high-quality ingredients are a passion with San Diego chefs, which makes finding superior dining in the city a cinch. And for those of us who travel with our families, the city offers hundreds of kid-friendly dining experiences that will keep children happy and satisfy discerning parents. Here's a list of my family's favorites